Abstract

REVIEW OF DEEPANA KARMA WITH REFERENCE TO DIGESTIVE STIMULANT ACTION

R. S. Sawant* and S. S. Savarikar

ABSTRACT

Agni or Jatharagni (Digestive fire) is said to be the most essential component in maintaining health and curing illnesses. Ayurvedic medicine is constantly concerned with keeping Agni in balance. Deepan dravya is a medication that boosts the agni without requiring digestion of Ama. Amla, katu, lavana rasa along with Ruksha (dry), Ushna (hot), Tikshna (sharp), Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous), Sar (mobile), Vishada (clear) properties are play role in defining agni-deepana action of the drug. As per ayurveda, the deepaniya action is depending upon the status of dosha, dhatu, upadhatu, mala, kala, dose of the drug. There are several experimental studies on these deepaniya drugs are available in research databases. When reviewed the ancient and current literature it was found that deepaniya action of the drug is similar to digestive enzyme stimulant action. It is concluded that deepana is not the instant action for enhancing the Agni (digestive fire). Agni will be stable if gradually increased using indicated drugs in therapeutic dose. Same is applied for digestive enzymes.

Keywords: Deepana, Agni, Digestive enzymes, Digestive stimulant.